Chapter 143: Fengyang City!

Yunzhou City, located in the southeastern plain of Yunzhou, has both fertile lands stretching a thousand li and the great river flowing surging.

Since stepping into the territory directly under Yunzhou's jurisdiction, Qin Shuo felt that everything was different.

Not only was the view broadened and the mountains few, even the air had become much more moist, unlike the dryness of Songyang Prefecture and Mulin Prefecture.

Now in the midst of deep winter, Yunzhou is naturally cold in climate, whether on the official roads or waterways, all are desolate and devoid of people.

The Demon Suppression Division's procession was mighty and imposing, walking on the road extremely conspicuous.

"Just ahead is Fengyang City; after passing Fengyang, we are not far from Yunzhou City, everyone, cheer up!"

At the front of the troop, Flying Star General Pang Tong spoke loudly.

After riding on horseback for over a month, even He Mingjing and several Greedy Wolf Captains were travel-worn, their faces showing fatigue that could not be concealed.

Besides wind-exposed and dew-lodged lodging, one had to constantly keep the spirit tense, lest the Ghost Mother Sect or Wind Thunder Valley people come to cause trouble; even Pang Tong, who had achieved success in Refining Organs, was already mentally and physically exhausted.

Physical fatigue can still be eased by blood and vital essence, but the exhaustion of spirit and mental strength requires a soothing and reassuring environment.

Always being on edge, no one's spirit would be good.

Especially after the incident where Situ Long plotted to ambush and assassinate the Demon Suppression Division troop, the vigilance of all the Demon Suppression Division Captains became even higher.

After all, in the territory of Mulin Prefecture, besides Situ Long, there were two other notorious bandits whose fame was even greater.

If these two great bandits were also bribed by the Ghost Mother Sect, then the possibility of them being ambushed would greatly increase.

As the saying goes, only a thousand days of being a thief, where is there a thousand days of guarding against thieves?

From that ruined mountain temple to leaving the territory of Mulin Prefecture, everyone's hearts had always hung with a thorn, naturally unable to eat or sleep well, and their mental state visibly listless.

But only one person was an exception, that being Qin Shuo.

Over these past ten-odd days, he daily collected the Essence of Heaven and Earth with Whale Swallowing the Four Seas, his Condensing Truth Realm had already been thoroughly consolidated, and the True Essence qi within his body had become rich and abundant, more than tenfold.

Although there is still some distance to go before achieving great accomplishment in Condensing Truth, this cultivation speed is already extraordinarily astonishing.

"Fengyang City?"

Upon hearing Pang Tong's words, Qin Shuo, who had originally been still with closed eyes exhaling, suddenly opened his eyes and gazed forward.

Although Whale Swallowing the Four Seas can plunder the Essence of Heaven and Earth, Qin Shuo did not completely abandon the cultivation of the Breathing Method.

After all, Whale Swallowing the Four Seas can only be used for one hour each day, and the remaining time has nothing to do, so it is just right to switch to the Breathing Method to collect the Essence of Heaven and Earth.

Moreover, cultivating the Breathing Method can relax the mind and spirit, aiding his mental recovery, and can shorten the interval of using Whale Swallowing the Four Seas.

What met the eye were fields stretching in patches.

Unlike the mountains surrounding Songyang Prefecture, the Yunzhou plain is flat and boundless, with no mountains to block the view, making the vista extremely open.

Although separated by several li, with Qin Shuo's eyesight he could naturally see clearly that the city standing like ruins upon the earth.

Houses collapsed, broken walls and remnants, the once prosperous city was entirely desolate, with sparse population, as if a ghost city.

Faintly, Qin Shuo seemed to hear chanting, distant and grand, as if performing salvation for the departed souls.

"Are there still people in Fengyang City?" Qin Shuo exclaimed in surprise.

He was not unfamiliar with this city.

The first time he heard of this city was when he went to Dongling Temple to seek advice from Monk Ku He on the Vajra Buddha Nature, and in the teahouse at the mountain's foot, he heard storytellers mention it.

It was also there that he learned of the information that the Xiaoyue Yaowang slaughtered Fengyang City and was pursued by the Dragon Elephant Monk.

"Yes."

Pang Tong, riding side by side with Qin Shuo, nodded heavily.

"They are all the Fengyang City residents who happened to be away from the city when the Xiaoyue Yaowang slaughtered it, thus escaping disaster."

"After the demon disaster occurred, the State Yamen and Dalong Temple immediately organized relief efforts, and Wind Thunder Valley and Giant Whale Gang also dispatched personnel."

"After entering the city later, if people from Wind Thunder Valley or Dalong Temple come to trouble you, you need not pay them heed."

"If they dare to make a move..."

Saying this, Pang Tong's mouth corner suddenly curled into a sinister arc, "Killing them would be them seeking their own death."

"As far as I know, the three major sects should all have Grandmasters presiding, while our Division Master, I suppose, is still not a Grandmaster? If trouble really breaks out, can our Division Master handle it?" Qin Shuo asked curiously.

He had harbored this doubt since his time in Songyang Prefecture.

At that time, Fu Lingyuan descended from the heavens, kicked the attacking Yue Shan to the ground with one foot.

Thereafter, he even developed killing intent, wanting to deal a deadly blow to the True Disciple of Yunzhou's First Alchemy Sect, and even Songyang Prefecture Master Shao Hanshang noticed it.

This shows that the temperament of that Division Master Fu is great, and his strength is strong.

But as he said, the three major sects all have Grandmasters presiding, so on what basis does that Division Master Fu dare to act so arrogantly?

Just because she is the Division Master of the Demon Suppression Division?

Obviously impossible.

The Great Li establishes the state through martial arts, and governs the world through sects.

The sects to the localities are like feudal lords, holding military power, guarding one region.

Even in some Dao prefectures, the court's prefectural and state offices have completely become mere decorations, all tax revenue and military administration falling into the hands of local sects.

The relationship between the court and the sects is more like cooperation than subordination.

Therefore, wanting to rely on just a Division Master's title to make the three major sects, which have Grandmasters presiding, obediently lower their heads, is obviously impossible.

That Fu Lingyuan must certainly have other reliance.

Perhaps it is her divine abilities, or perhaps behind her there is a massive power that even the three major sects dare not offend.

Indeed, Pang Tong's following words confirmed his thought.

"You must by no means look down on our Division Master."

Upon mentioning Fu Lingyuan, Pang Tong immediately became spirited.

He chuckled lightly: "Although our Division Master is not yet a Grandmaster, whether in personal combat strength or behind-the-scenes power, he is far beyond what these Yunzhou sects can aspire to."

"In short, one sentence: with our Division Master protecting you, as long as you are in the right, even if you split the True Disciple of the three major sects and beheaded their Elders, the Division Master can also help you settle the matter."

"What if a Grandmaster were to strike?" Qin Shuo retorted.

"Not to mention that Grandmasters rarely act lightly; even if they did, they would not openly target us."

Pang Tong shook his head and continued: "The court and the sects cooperate, yet also distrust each other."

"The court fears that local sects will rebel, while local sects fear the court will seize their fiefs under some pretext."

"Therefore, unless left with no choice, Grandmasters will not strike against court officials."

"Once they act, they risk being accused of plotting treason and rebellion."

"Of course, if someone seeks death themselves, insisting on provoking a Grandmaster's dignity, then dying would be in vain."

"Under normal circumstances, we need not worry about being targeted by a Grandmaster."

"After all, as the world's greatest superpower sect, the court's reserves and experts far exceed your imagination."

"If the court were truly angered, flattening a sect of Grandmaster level would be nothing more than a single command from His Majesty the Emperor."

"Not to mention far away, our Yunzhou State Lord Chen Muyun is a true and verified Great Grandmaster."

"If a Grandmaster were to target you, he would certainly not stand by and do nothing."

As they spoke, the group had already arrived at the foot of Fengyang City.